Internal combustion engine



Oct. 19, 1937. N c. E. MILLER 2,096,189

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 26, 1935 Z a/K Z0 Qhmk PatentedOct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINECharles E. Miller, Anderson, Ind.

Application August 26, 1935, Serial No. 37,990

2 Claims. (01. 74-580) This invention relates to internal combustioncircular floating members II forming a cylindriengines, and moreparticularly to engines havcal or ring bearing surface for the innerends of ing radiating cylinders. the connecting rods Ill. The floatingmembers The primary object of this invention is to prol I have spacedslots to aid in the distribution of 5 vide a connection between theconnecting rod of lubricants to opposite faces thereof. 5

a radial type engine and the crank shaft requir- The connecting rods IDare each provided with ing a minimum number of parts and allowing footportions I2 having a bearing surface 13 complete lubrication of thecrank shaft throw adapted to engage the floating ring H and thesurrounding the area upon which the connectbearing surfaces arearcuately curved to conform ing rods are attached. with the circularshape of the ring members ll. 10 A further object of this invention isto provide Lateral extensions M are formed on each of the a connectingrod having a crank throw engaging connecting rod foot portions l2 asclearly shown portion provided with slots for allowing the inin Figure 2and annularly extending grooves I5 terfitting and sliding movement aboutthe cirare formed in the top surface of the foot exten- 15 cumference ofthe crank shaft throw without sions for receiving two-part anchor ringsl6 se- 5 binding and the resultant breakage thereto. cured together atadjacent ends as at I! by means A further object of this invention is toprovide of lug and bolt devices. The rings l6 maintain a crank throwconnection including a floating the parts in assembled relation butsuflicient play ring interposed between the connecting rod bearisprovided to allow relatively free movements being portion and the crankshaft throw to further tween the parts for the flow. of a lubricant. 20insure against a binding action and to allow the In the form of theinvention shown in Figures free passage of oil to the bearing surfaces.3 and 4, the connecting rod Illa has a foot IZw Other objects andadvantages of the invention curved coincident to the curvature of thecrank will become apparent during the course of the shaft throw, thelateral extensions Ma thereof following description, taken with thedrawing, being grooved as at 1511. The opposite side edges 25 wherein,of the foot lZa. are serrated or notched to pro- Figure 1 is a verticalcross-sectional View vide alternate fingers l8 and notches IS. A keythrough a radial motor, showing in detail the piece or tongue 2| in theform of a curved strip connection between the crank throw and piston; tocontact the floating ring I I has opposite side Figure 2 is an axialcross-sectional View taken edges notched as at 20 providing alternating30 on line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction fingers 22, the keypiece to be interfitted with adof the arrows, further illustrating indetail the jacent connecting rod heads I20; with sufficient connectingrod joint and the manner in which play between the parts to allowfreedom of movethe inner ends of the connecting rods are atment and flowof lubricant.

tached to the engine crank shaft; Heretofore, engines of the radialcylinder type 35 Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View haverequired the use of connecting rods having of another form of connectingrod wherein the split bearings arranged side by side upon the inner endsare serrated or notched for interfitcrank shaft throw requiring a throwof considerting movement with similarly formed tongue beable length andthe arrangement of the cylinders tween adjacent connecting rods; and instaggered relation. That construction has 40 Figure 4 is a plan View ofone of the connectbeen found disadvantageous in view of the fact ing rodtongues. that the engine cannot be constructed in a com- In the drawing,wherein for the purpose of 11- pact manner. The above objections anddisadlustrating the invention and wherein like refervantages areovercome by providing a connection ence characters W 10% p y todesignate between the crank throw of an engine and con- 45 like partsthroughout the same, the reference necting rod as described and pointedout in the character 5 will generally be employed to desigprecedingdisclosure.

nate the cylinders of a radial type engine hav- It is to be understoodthat the forms of the ing reciprocably mounted therein pistons 6havinvention herewith shown and described are to be ing the usual wristpins 1. taken as the preferred embodiments of the same 50 A crank shaft3 is centrally journalled in the and that minor changes may be madetherein engine casing with respect to the cylinders 5 and withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of said crank shaft is provided witha throw 9 to the invention as claimed. which the connecting rods II] areattached. I claim:-

Surrounding the crank shaft throw 9 are semi- 1. A connecting rodassembly, including a plu- 55 '2. A connecting rod assembiy includingsemircirculanbea ring members adapted to surround e g shaft, connectingrods ihaving foot portions adapted toengage the shaft, said foo tportions 7 having slotson opposite sides, a. slotted key intere j posedbetween adjacentfioot portions for inter-11 g fitting engagementtherewith to permit circuzn- V g ferential movements of thefoot'po-rtions with V respect to each other and to facilitate the flowof V lubricant and retaining rings for holding thefoot 7 portions inposition upon the shaft.

V s CHARLES E. MILLER.

